Workshop tool stand



May 18, 1965 R. a HALFINGER WORKSHOP TOOL STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 15, 1964 INVENTOR Puss-LL B. HALF/N652 BY %41 ATTORNEYS.

May 18, 1955 R. B. HALFINGER 3,184,190

WORKSHOP TOOL STAND Filed Jan. 15, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j -Ili n Jig 5INVENTOR Fuse )3. HALF/Maze Afroxusvs.

United States Patent 3,184,190 WGRKSHOP TUGL STAND Russell B. Halfinger,North Haven, Coma, assignor of one-half to Robert T. Beebe, Woodbridge,Conn. Filed Jan. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 337,789 6 Clm'ms. (Cl. 248-13) Thisinvention relates to a workshop tool stand, and more particularly to astand for a plurality of motor driven tools whereby they may beconnected selectively to .a motor unit, yet conveniently stored out ofthe way when not in use.

In a typical home workshop it is usually desirable to have a number ofdifferent motor driven tOOls for performing different operations. Suchtools commonly include a bench saw, lathe, grinder, router, etc. Whereeach of these tools is driven by a separate motor, not only is there aconsiderable investment in motor units, but these units are not usedmost economically since they stand idle a good part of the time.

Another factor to be considered, especially in smaller home workshops,is that of available workshop space. Even if the homeowner is willingand able to invest in separate tool and motor units, he may not haveroom to accommodate them in his shop. A convertible unit which willaccept a number of standard readily available shop tools, and providemeans for storing these to permit simple and quick positioning for use,is accordingly desirable and is one of the principal objectives of thepresent invention.

"Various devices have heretofore been suggested for accomplishing thesame general purpose, but the unit herein described possesses featuresand advantages which render the invention especially valuable to theaverage home workshop operator in respect to adequate and effectiveutilization of the full capabilities of available standard tools, easeof convertibility from one tool to another, economy of space and motordrive, as well as low cost. The invention further provides a practicaland economical way to acquire a complete power workshop in progressivesteps without running into duplication or outmoding of previouslyacquired units.

The unit shown in the accompanying drawings represents a particularlysuitable form of device. It will be understood, however, that this isintended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, it being possibleto make many modifications as to details, and it is accordingly intendedto include such modifications and equivalents as properly fall withinthe scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view in side elevation, a numher of typical shoptools being shown in dotted line as they would be mounted on the stand;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are elevational views from different sides of the standshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is top plan view of the stand, with the tool rails swungoutwardly from the sides of the stand; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view in section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, stand ltl comprises a generally rectangular frame11 composed of angle iron members 12 overlapped at their ends andsecured together, as by bolts or rivets, and tubular legs 14 fastened attheir upper ends to the respective corners of frame 11. Stand thusprovides an open center working surface supported above the floor atsuitable elevation for working convenience. Intermediate their extent,legs 14- are provided with braces 16 bolted or otherwise secured theretofor added rigidity of the unit.

For convenience in moving the stand about a workshop, two of legs 14 areprovided with wheels or casters 18, while the opposite two legsterminate in anti-skid pads 3,l84,l% Patented May 18, 1965 20, theselatter prevent the stand from walking while in use but permit it to bemoved easily when desired by lifting these legs slightly off the floorand then rolling the stand about on the casters on the other two legs.

As seen more particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, a rod 22 extends between apair of legs 14 and is secured at its opposite ends in appropriateapertures in the legs. Rod 22 carries a pair of motor rails 24 which areloosely hinged thereon by passage of the rod through holes provided inthe vertical flanges of these rails, adjacent one end thereof. Anelectric motor M is secured by bolts passing through its base into holesprovided in the horizontal flange at the free ends of rails 24, wherebythe rails are then held in spaced parallel relation but may he slid,together with motor M, longitudinally along rod 22 within the confinesof legs 14. This permits lateral alignment of the motor pulley with thedrive pulley of each individual tool. The rails, as previouslymentioned, are freely hinged on rod 22 so that the motor M may swingthrough an arc defined by the rails.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the working surface of the stand isprovided with cooperating paired arms which project laterally from theedges of frame 11. One such pair of arm is represented by angle irons 30which extend completely across the top of the stand and project slightlybeyond the edges thereof. These arms are provided with pivot rods 32interconnecting the opposite ends of the arms adjacent the respectivemargins of the working surface. A second pair of arms 34 is alsoillustrated, these arms likewise being composed of angle iron stock butbeing disposed vertically at one of the remaining sides of the stand.Arms 34 extend upward slightly above the surface defined by framemembers 12 and are, in turn, provided with a pivot rod 36 Secured at itsopposite ends to arms 34. Each of arms 30, 34 may be bolted or welded tothe frame members 12 and/ or legs 14, respectively.

In the specific illustration here given, paired anus and theirassociated pivot rods are thus provided at three sides of the tool standonly, but it is apparent that a further set of arms and an accompanyingpivot rod could be secured to the remaining side of the stand ifdesired.

Each of pivot rods 32, 36, is provided with tool mounting rails 38, 49,respectively, loosely hinged thereto by passage of the rod through holesprovided in the vertical flanges of the respective rails. Mounting holes44 are drilled or punched in each or" the rails whereby tool units maybe bolted thereto, the rails being freely slidable longitudinally oftheir pivot rods prior to being secured to a tool, to accommodate theirspacing for the particular tool to be mounted thereon.

The several power tools, such as table saw TS, grinder G and belt sanderBS, shown in dotted lines, are mounted on the upper, i.e. horizontal,flange of the respective tool rails 38, 49, so that as the units areswung laterally upwardly from depending position adjacent the sides ofstand 19, they are brought into overlying relation in respect to theworking surface defined by frame members 12. Each tool unit is thusselectively disposed directly above motor M and may be connected theretoby means of a flexible belt B. Motor M is freely pivotable upwardly onits rails 24 to facilitate connection of the belt to the tool in use andis suspended by the drive belt. The weight of the motor on the belt isthus employed to provide proper belt tension.

Each of the tool units is mounted on a pair of tool rails so that theaxis of rotation of the tool unit is parallel to the shaft of motor M,and the tool is adjustably fastened to its rails so that when swung intoposition on top of the stand, good alignment of the drive pulley of thetool with that of motor M takes place practically automatically clue tothe freedom of the motor and supporting rails to move laterally.

It will be noted that the vertically disposed arms 34 project slightlyabove the upper edge of horizontally disposed arms 36 traversing thestand; This'is so arranged that' the rails 40, which are suspended onpivot rod 36, will hinge over into horizontal position, resting on theupper edges of arms 30, when in operative position for the unit attachedto such rails.

As will be apparent, the foregoing unit embodies a very economical andstructurally simple arrangement which afiords the user the convenienceof completely separate standard, self-contained tools, but enables himto drive each of them independently from a single motor ource, at thesame time providing substantial saving of space requirements for thetools with no sacrifice in utilization of the several tools.

As mentioned, it will be apparent that various modifications can be madein the construction particularly illustrated and described above. Forexample, the supports for pivot rods 32, 36, might simply be bracketssecured directly to the sides of frame members 12. Also, if two toolsare relatively narrow, it may be possible to mount both such tools inside-by-side relation on separate pairs of rails suspended from the samepivot rod. These and similar modifications are of course intended tofall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a workshop tool stand for motor-driven tools,

(a) means defining an open centered working surface and leg meanssupporting said working surface at an appropriate height above thefloor;

(b) a motor support stationed below said working surface; s

(c) pivot means adjacent at least one edge of working surface;

(d) a pair of tool rails supported on said pivot means and swingablethereabout in a plane perpendicular to .said working surface from aposition laterally alongside said stand to a position overlying saidopen-centered working surface and;

(e) provision on said rails for securing a tool thereto.

2. In a tool stand for supporting a plurality of power tools whereby toenable selective shifting of said tools into operative position on saidstand, the combination which comprises, Q (a) a generally rectangularframe disposed horizontally to define a working surface;

() leg means supporting said frame above the floor;

(c) a motor support stationed beneath said frame;

- (d) a pair of arms and a pivot rod supported therein laterallyadjacent an edge of said frame;

(2) a pair of rails pivoted on said rod, individually slidabletherealong and swingable from a position alongside said leg means intooverlying relation to said rectangular frame;

(f) and means on said rails for mounting a power tool thereon.

said

3.'I11 a tool stand for interchangeable use of one of so plurality ofpower tools mounted to be shiftable selective- (c) a motor supportlocated beneath said work sur face;

(d) a pair of arms extending across said work surface and secured tosaid frame, said arms projecting laterally at opposite sides of saidframe;

(e) a hinge rod supported between projecting ends of said arms at eachof the opposite ends thereof;

(f) a pair of power tool rails loosely pivoted on each of said hingerods .and swinga'ble alternatively into overlying horizontal relationabove said work surface from a depending substantially vertical positionalongside opposite edges of said surface; and p (g) means for securingsaid rails in each pair to the base of a power tool whereby said toolmay be swung into and out of overlying relation to said work surface andsaid motor support;

4. A tool stand of the character defined in claim 3,

which further includes;

(a) a second pair of arms disposed transversely of the first and securedto said stand to project above said first pair intermediate the firstsaid opposite sides of said stand;

(b) an additional hinge rod supported between the projecting portions ofsaid second pair of arms;

(0) a pair of power tool rails loosely pivoted on said.

additional rod and swingable from a depending position alongside saidtable into overlying relation to said first pair of arms and restablethereon in horizontal position; and;

(d) mean for securing a power tool tosaid second pair of rails.

5. A tool stand of the character defined in claim 3, wherein said motorsupport comprises a hinge rod tsecured at its opposite ends to laterallyopposed legs of said stand, and a pair of motor rails loosely pivoted onsaid rod, and means for rigidly fastening said motor to said railsWbilepermitting arcuate and lateral movement of said motor and armsbeneath said work surface.

.6. A tool stand for interchangeable, use of one of a plurality of powertools adapted to be shifted selectively into operative position on saidstand, comprising:

(a) means defining a working surface having an aperture therein;

(b) means supporting said working surface of an appropriate height abovethe floor;

(c) a motor support stationed beneath the aperture in said workingsurface and shiftable vertically and laterally relative thereto;

(d) horizontally disposed pivot means adjacent at least one edge of saidworking surface;

(2) tool rail means supported on said pivot means and swingablethereabout in a plane perpendicular to said working surface from aposition laterally' alongside said stand to a position overlying saidworking. surface; and

(f) means on said tool rail means for securing a power tool thereto.

References Cited the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS CLAUDE A. LE RoY,Primary Examiner.

1. IN A WORSHOP TOOL STAND FOR MOTOR-DRIVEN TOOLS, (A) MEANS DEFINING ANOPEN CENTERED WORKING SURFACE AND LEG MEANS SUPPORTING SAID WORKINGSURFACES AT AN APPROPRIATE HEIGHT ABOVE THE FLOOR; (B) A MOTOR SUPPORTSTATIONED BELOW SAID WORKING SURFACE; (C) PIVOT MEANS ADJACENT AT LEASTONE EDGE OF SAID WORKING SURFACE; (D) A PAIR OF TOOL RAILS SUPPORTED ONSAID PIVOT MEANS AND SWINGABLE THEREABOUT IN A PLANE PERPEN-